Knitting machine



. Nov. 17, 1936; MCADAMS 2,061,473 7 KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14,1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 iii LL- INVENTOR.

M HEIIH MEAL-151115- 4 BY I ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936. H. McADAMs 2,061,473

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTOR.

H M'EAdarna ATTORNEYS.

M www- Nov. 17, 1936. McADAMs 2,061,473

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 75 INVENTOR.

,EhfPHMEAdflE ATTORNEYS.

H. M ADAMS 2,061,473

KNITTING MACHINE Nov. 17, 1936.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.- 14, 1932 I ll u I II in II I INVENTOR.

MAEIEITIS- ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936.- H. McADAMs 2,061,473

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 WWW? Qifixifi???Wsizys gs 55's gigis gg gs g "i (um? W pram e;

INVENTOR.

I HB MEAEIEmE- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE" Harry McAdams,Reading, Pa.,- assignor to Nolde and Horst Company, Reading, Pa.,acorporation Application January 14, 1932, Serial No. 586,635

. 17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedknitting machine embodying an improved mechanism for controllingknitting needles in plating operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedknitting 'machine upon which plated fabrics can be knitted with a widevariety of reverse plated figures and designs appearing therein.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a knittingmachine embodying improved reverse plating pattern controllingmechanism.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a knittingmachine for the production of plated fabrics, embodying an improvedneedle controlling jack,and jack operating cam construction.

A further object of this, invention is the provision ofan improved jackfor knitting machines.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedmethod for the production of reverse plated fabric.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedplated fabric.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved knitting machine.-

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved knittingmachine.

, Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken,

through the cylinder of the improved knitting machine showing theassociation therewith of a series of selectively operated jack actuatingcams. V.

Figure 4 is a view on a developed plane, of the needle set andcooperating series of jacks in associated relation with jack andneedle-operating cams.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a piece of fabric which maybe knitted on the improved machine, showing merely by way of example onedesign which may be knitted with the Figure '7 is a side elevation of animproved jack used upon the machine.

Figure 8 is a. fragmentary view showing on a developed plane thepattern-control lugs which, thru a lever and cam mechanism, controlactua- 5 tion of the jacks and needles of the machine.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary rear view of thelower portion of the knittingmachine, showing more particularly the pattern drum actuating mechanism.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through anupper portion of the cylinder, showing the improved construction thereofand association of the needles and jacks therewith.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a lever mechanism associated with theknitting machine between the pattern control drum and the jack actuatingcams.

.Figure 12 is a plan view oga cam block of the improved machine.

,Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through theknitting machine cylinder, showing more paticularly the manner in whicha cam actuates an auxiliary jack for elevating a predetermined needle orneedles of the machine. for the taking of additional yarns.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A may gen-=erally designate the improved knitting machine, which may include aframe B; cylinder C; means D to operate the cylinder; a set of needlesE; a set of jacks F, and means G to actuate the jacks. By way of examplea piece of fabric H has been. shown in Figure 5, but it is to beunderstood that af-wide variety of designs and fabrics may be knittedupon the improved machine.

The knitting machine generally partakes of certain characteristics. ofthe Banner type of knitting machine disclosed in U. S. Patent #933,443.The frame B has a supporting bed 20 upon which the cylinder C isrotatably mounted. The means for rotating and oscillating the cylinderCare of any approved type, preferably 45 similar to those shown in thepatent above mentioned. The cylinder is driven off a main shaft 21,shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, whereon are positioned the usualpulleys and gearing, including a pinion (not shown) for driving a largergear 23, shown in Figure 9, known conventionally as the 104 gear, whichis suitably mounted upon a shaft 24. The main drive shaft is alsoprovided with the usual quadrant 25 for recipro- 55 7 eating thecylinder during the knitting of the heel and toe, as is usual. 7

The needle cylinder C is of a special construction. It is considerablylonger than the conventional knitting machine cylinder and is providedwith needle grooves 26 therein. At its lower end the cylinder isanchored, as shown at 21 in Figure 3 of the drawings, to the gear 28which forms a part of the cylinder driving means D, as will be wellunderstood by those skilled in the art. The grooves 26 are relativelydeep, since they are intended to receive a plurality of jack and needleelements whose surfaces are suitably cammed to perform operations to besubsequently described. By referring to Figures 3 and 10 of the drawingsit will be noted that the upper end of the cylinder C is provided with areduced annular extension 28' which receives a hardened steel ring 29thereabouts; the latter being provided with a downwardly facing beveledshoulder 30 overhanging the upper ends of the slots 26 in the cylinder Cfor the purpose of providing a cam shoulden against which the main jacks3| of the set of jacks F operate, in order to cam the needles 32 of theset of needles E radially outwardly in the grooves into position fornormal plating. It is to be noted that the steel ring 29 is also slottedat 33 providing continuations aligning with the slots 26. wherein theneedles 32 are also received. The steel ring 29 is properly held inpreferably permanent position by means of a brass cap 35, which includesa skirt extending downwardly into the cylinder, and soldered in place asat 36. This cap 35 is provided with radial grooves 31 therein forslidably receiving the usual sinkers 38; the said cap being finishedquite similar to the top of any conventional knitting machine cylinder.

The needles 32 of the set of needles E are each of the conventionallatch type; half of them having long butts 40 and the remaining havingshort butts 4|. The longer butts 40 are designated in full black inFigure 4 of thedrawings.

The main jacks 3| *each' include a stem or body portion 43 which iswidest at the lower end and there suppbrts a plurality of frangiblebutts 44, 45, 46, 41, 48, and 49. Of course, the number of buttsprovided on the shank may vary, but by way of example the jack'3l isshown as having six frangible butts. Each of these butts may be snappedoff at its juncture with the body, or at any place along its length, sothat any desired arrangement of butts may be omitted from any individualjack or readily made into a butt of 'a desired length. At its upper endthe jack 43 is reduced inwardly from the edge 50 of the jack whichslides against the bottom of the cylinder slot, to provide an upwardlyfacing sloping shoulder 5| which is adapted to ride against thedownwardly facing shoulder 30 at the top of the cylinder C, in orderthat as the jack is slid upward in its slot the upper end will be movedradially outwardly in the slot for pushing the needle 32 cooperatingtherewith in a radially outward direction, as will be quite apparentfrom the positions of the needles shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, andelsewhere. The body 43 of the; jack 3| is further reduced at a pointbelow the shoulder 5| but along the opposite edge 52 thereof to providean upwardly facing sloping shoulderpr cam edge 53 against which thelower end of the needle 32 cooperating therewith isadapted to ride, asthe jack is slid upwardly in its slot, for urging the lower end of theneedle 32 radially outwardly at the same time that the upper end of theneedle is being urged radially outwardly by the riding of the jackshoulder 5| against the cylinder surface 30. This is shown at the upperright hand portion of the cylinder in Figure 3. With such arrangementthe needles are bodily moved radially outwardly or transversely to theaxis of the cylinder C in contradistinction to a mere rocking or tippingaction of the needle which has heretofore been the practice. Auxiliaryneedle operating jacks 55 and 55', as shown in Figure 4, may be used ina cooperative action with the jacks 3| for pushing certain needlesupwardly in order to receive contrasting yarns. The jacks 3| aretherefore provided with upwardly facing shoulders 56 along their forwardedges just above the topmost of the butts 44, against which the loweredge of the auxiliary jacks may engage. The auxiliary jacks slide in thecylinder slots forwardly-of the front edges of the main jacks 3|, andhave independent cam means for actuation, as will be subsequentlydescribed. These auxiliary jacks may have butts 51 thereon of anyapproved length; both the body of the jacks 55 and 55' and the buttsbeing frangible in order that they may be broken off at desired lengths.

The jack actuating means G preferably includes a supporting block 60which is provided with a vertical series of slots 6| horizontallyarranged therethrough. The block 66 is open at a side to permit thevarious cams to be assem-' bled therein; the open side being then closedby means of a plate 63, shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. The block6|) is provided with a lateral base extension 64 apertured for receivingsuitable bolts by means of which to attach it to the suppo'rtingbed 20;Flat, elongated and horizontally positioned cams are slidable in thepassageway 6|, as shown in Figures 3 and 12 of the drawings. It isof'course understood that any desired number of passageways 6| may beprovided. In the preferred instance eight of such slots areprovided. Inthe uppermost of them is placed a slidable cam 66, the cam head 61 ofwhich is canted at an angle, and in position for actuation of theauxiliary jacks, as will be subsequently described. In the otherpassageways 6| of the block G there are disposed similarly formed stripcams 68, 69, 10, II and 12, which are adapted for actuation upon thebutts -of the main jacks 3|, located at the various levels thereon.These cams 68 to 12 are-similarly formed and at their outer ends are cutaway to provide a beveled cam face 13, shown in Figure 12 of thedrawings, against which the jack butts ride in order to effect theelevation of the jacks in a selected arrangement. As is shown in Figure12 of the drawings the cams 66 and 68 to I2 inclusive are normallyspring urged into engagement at their c'am ends toward cylinder C, andof course in position to actuate the various jack butts which areinterposed in their path. Thus, a contractile spring 15 may be providedfor each such cam, secured at '16 upon the block at one end, and at Hupon the outer end of the'respective cam. Stop pins I8 maybe positionedon the cams for engagement with the block 60 to prevent contact at theircam ends with the.cylinder, if desired.

The jack actuating means G further includes block 38 and elsewhere. Thedrum 19 is actuated in a step by step movement off the cylinder drivingmechanism of the machine,'and preferably in a manner similar to thatdescribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 558,798, filed August22, 1931. Adjacent the frame of the machine it is provided with a rigidratchet wheel either integral or fixedly attached therewith, designatedat 8|. -This ratchet wheel is provided with sixty teeth about thecircumference thereof. Generally, the conventional 104" gear wheel 23rotates once for every four revo- I frame, as shown in Figure 2. Theshaft 84 is also provided with an arm 85 keyed therewith, whichintermediate its ends is provided with a pivoted pawl 88. The pawl armrests by" gravity upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel 8|. A spring 81normally draws the lever 85 into a position where the arm 83 will beengaged by the lugs 82 as the wheel 23 rotates. It will be readilyunderstood that engagement of the lugs 82 with the arm 83 will throw thepawl arm 86'rearwardly for advancing the ratchet wheel, and its drum.

It will be necessary during the knitting of some portion of a stockingto prevent rotation of the drum 19. Means is provided, as has beendescribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 558,798 abovementioned, to hold the pawl actuating lever out of the path of movementof the lugs 82. This mechanism includes a bell crank lever 88 pivoted onthe frame of the machine, one end of which is in position for abutmentagainst a surface 89 of the arm 85, as shown in Figure 2, in order tohold the lever 83 inopera tive. under such circumstances. The bell cranklever 88 is provided with a rod 98 pivoted thereto and at its oppositeend pivoted to the free end of an arm 9|. The latter is mounted upon ashaft 92 on the fore portion of the machine, shown also in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. The pattern chain 93 is provided with appropriate lugs 94adapted to operate against an arm 95 pivoted on thefront of the machineand in position to act against an arm 98 upon the shaft 92 for rockingthe latter in order to trip the bell crank lever 88. The latter isnormally held inoperative by means of -a bell crank lever 91, which hasone end thereof in position to be engaged by suitable pins 98 on thecircumference of the drum, as shown in Figures 2 and 9 of the drawings.These pins may be selectively placed on the drum to operate the lever 91at desired intervals. The other arm portion of the lever 91 is suitablynotched in stepped relation to receive a pin I88 which is rigid upon theside of the bell crank lever 88. During step by step advance of the drum19 the The spring 81 will of course be tensioned of travel of the lugs82, so that the drum cannot be advanced until a lug 94 on the patternchain actuates the above described mechanism.

As an example of one form of knitted fabric which may be produced uponthe improved machine, the fabric H is illustrated in Figure 5 of thedrawings. It is formed of a backing or body yarn I I8, and a facing orplating yarn II I. The plating yarn of course appears on the face of thefabric and the body yarn is concealed therebeneath. In the example shownthe backing yarn is black and the facing yarn is white, although anycolored yarns may be used in lieu thereof. It is my intention to producea figured effect or design by reverse plating the yarns I I8 and III,and within the design and in association therewith place one ormore'yarns of contrasting color arrangement with respect to the platingand body yarns. In the present machine I 'interknit these additionalyarns of contrasting color by what is known as the floating threadmethod. For the knitting of the'contrasting colored effect within thereverse plated design, in the particular fabric H I use the contrastingcolored yarns H2 and I I3. Merely by way of example the yarn II 2 may bered, and the yarn I,I3'green in color. While the reverse plated effectmay assume any desired shape or formation, it is preferred to knit thesame in the fabric H in the form of a closed figure; the floating yarnsH2 and H3 being knittedwithin the closed figure. The reverse plateddiamond figure or design appearing in Figure 5 is formed by reverseplating the backing yarn H8 in one of the wales for two successivecourses, and then for each pair of successive courses reverse platingthe normal backing yarn I I8 in the adjacently offset wales. Thisproduces the diamond effect shown in the fabric inFigure 5. Within thediamond design the green yarn H3 is knitted so as to appear on the faceof the fabric in those two knitted courses in the fabric which determinethe greatest width of the reverse plated diamond design, and in thecenter wale. In the same courses but in the wales at each side of thecenter wale the contrastingly colored yarn H2 is knitted so as to appearon the face of the fabric, within the reverse plated diamond design. Theyarns H2 and H3 are floated on the inside of the fabric between thevarious, adjacently positioned designs in the fabric, as will beapparent from Figure 5. It will be well under- I in a cooperativeassociation with the contrastingly floating yarn or yarns, which may beprovided in any desired number.

Further referring to the means G, and particularly to the mechanism foroperating the various cams upon the block 68 off the lugs of the drum19, a bell crank lever arrangement is associated with said cams. Thisarrangement is best shown in Figure 11, and includes a support IHI whichmay be attached upon the front of the machine frame 13. It is providedwith a plurality of slots in the front thereof for compactly receiving aplurality of bell crank levers H5, H8, H1, H8, H9, I28, I2I, and I22; apivot pin I23 being provided on the supporting piece I! for pivoting thesaid bell crank levers in position. The bell crank levers are providedwith upstanding portions which are of various lengths; their upper endsterminating in a stepped relation. The upstanding ends may be laterallyoifset in a selected arrangement and they are adapted to cooperateagainst certain laterally extending pins I24 provided on each of thecams 66, and 68 to 12 inclusive, between said pins and the machinecylinder, so that upon pulling downward upon the lower ends of the bellcrank levers said cams may be moved outwardly away from the cylinder,against the normal spring action. These lower end portions of the bellcranklevers are laterally offset to relatively space them, and each ofthem are provided with a plurality of openings therein whereby to attacha connecting rod any desired place along the length thereof in order toactuate the respective cam for the desired distance.

Drum actuated levers I are pivoted at I3I upon the frame of the machine,intermediate their ends. Their forward ends are pivotally connected atI32 with upwardly extending connecting rods I33; the latter beingconnected, as above mentioned, with the lower outstanding endportions ofthe bell crank levers II5 to I22 inclusive. It is to be understood thata lever I30 is provided for each bell crank lever, and that the rearends of the said levers I30 are provided with adjustable lug engagingpieces I35, as shown in Figure 2, which are engaged by the various lugson the drum I9. Springs I36 normally urge the levers I30 into engagementwith the drum I9, as shown in Figure 2. It is readily apparent from theforegoing that when a lug engages the end I of a lever I30, the fore endof the latter will be lowered and through the connecting rod I33 a leverwill be rocked for actuating its cam.

Referring at this time to the needle and [jack arrangement asillustrated in Figure 4, for the knitting of the fabric H illustrated inFigure 5, it will be noted that the reverse plated design is sevenneedle wales in width, so that seven needles are required in a,set toeffect the knitting thereof. The needle action is effected throughmanipulation of the jacks 3|. Theset of jacks F include a plurality ofseries of seven jacks each, whereon the butts are arranged'to permit ofproper cam operation for knitting of the illustrated reverse plateddesign. Thus, in each of the special sevenjack series there is provideda central jack 3I with only one long butt 45, which corresponds inposition to the butt 45 of the jack shown in Figure 7. At each sidethereof the jacks 3I -are each provided with only one long butt 46,which corresponds in position to the butt 46 of the jack shown in Figure'7. At the reniote sides of the jacks 3| there are provided jacks 3I,each of which has only one long jack 41, corresponding in position tothe butt 41 of the jack shown in Figure 7. At the remote sides of thejacks 3| there are adjacently positioned jacks 3I which are the last ineach series of seven special jacks. They each have one long butt 48corresponding in position to the butt 48 of the jack shown in Figure '7.The lowermost butts 49" on the jacks are shortened for each jack. ineach series of seven, for a purpose to be subsequently described. At thesame level as the butt 45 the remaining jacks in each of the series ofseven, are provided with shorter butts 45 1 The jacks on the cylinderintermediate the special series of jacks are preferably each providedwith one of the long butts 45 and a long butt 49; the remaining butts ofthe said intermediate jacks being either shortened or broken' Figure 4it will be noted that the needles and jacks travel on the cylinder inthe direction shown by the arrow. Of course a cam travel type of machinemay be used if desired, since the principles of the invention areapplicable to various types of knitting machines. An elevating cam Ishown, as to the mounting, in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and as tojack actuation, in Figure 4 of the drawings, is slida-bly mounted in asuitable mounting block I upon the machine. It is actuated by a bellcrank I42. The latter is actuated either on the conventional patterncontrol drum I43, or on the special pattern control drum I9. In themachine shown it is actuated off the drum I43; the latter having a lugthereon actuating a lever I44 pivoted at I45 on the machine and througha connecting rod I46 actuating the bell crank lever I42. The function ofthe cam I40 is to elevate all of the jacks into operative relationwithrespect to the cams upon the block 60.

For normal plating upon the knitting machine, that is, where on thefabric the plating yarn III appears on the outer face of the fabric, theneedles are manipulated by vertical upward movement of the jacks 3I intothe radially outwardly displacedposition, shown for the needle at theright "hand side of Figure 3 of the drawings. To effectreverse plating,that is, in order to throw the backing or body yarn IIO to the outerface of the fabric, as when introducing the design or figure into thefabric, the jack remains in the position shown in the left hand part ofthe cylinder in Figure 3 of the drawings, so that the needle is radiallydisposed inwardly of the needles upon which normal plated fabric isbeing knitted. The relation of the needles for knitting of normalplating and reverse plating are shown in Figure 6 of the drawings,wherein the needle 3? is the one upon which normal plating is effected,and the needle 32 upon which reverse plating occurs has its hook setbackwardly of the other needle. The manner in which reverse plating andnormal plating is effected with such cooperative needle action has beenset forth in U. S. Patent #1,680,063 and need not here be described. Themechanism of that patent does not permit of as selective arrangement ofreverse plating as with my improved machine, since I am enabled toselectively control theactuation of any desired number of needles on thecylinder in order to reverse plate various figures and designs, as wellas stripes.

The cam I40 elevates all of the jacks of the cylinder to a positionwhere the upper ends ofthe jacks lie just below and short of the camshoulder 30 (see Figure 10), and in position so that the various cams ofthe block 60 may be selectively operated in order to control the reverseplating action of those needles which lie in the same slots as the sevenspecial jacks above mentioned. Thespecial pattern contrpl drum I9 isprovided with an'elevated strip or lug I 50 thereomwhereon one of theoperating levers I30 operates, in such manner that through one of theconnecting rods I33 the bell crank lever II8 will be actuated .forpartially moving the cam I2 on the block to a position which will permitit to engage the long lower butts 49 of each main jack 3|, in order toelevate thejacks with long butts 49 upwardly into the slots of thecylinder, so that their upper ends cam against the shoulder 30 of thecylinder, in order to move the needles 32 radially outward to the 76position shown in the upper right hand portion ofthe cylinder of Figure3 of the drawings. This throws the needles into position for normalplated knitting. The cam 12, however, under such circumstances, iswithdrawn sufficiently to miss the short butts on the lower ends of thespecial series of jacks which control the knitting of the reverse plateddesign. Such special jacks, if elevated at all, to effect normalplated-knitting, must be moved by some of the other cams in the block60, as will be subse-* quently described. The cams I40 and 12- of courseare positioned to actuate the jacks so long as the machine is incondition for knitting the plated design in the fabric.

As the drum I9 rotates, the pattern controlling lug I5I, through a leverI30 and connecting rod I33 actuates the bell cranklever I22 withdraw.-ing the cam 68 fully so that it will completely miss the long butt I5 ofthe central jack in the series of seven special jacks. Thus, thiscentral special jack 3'I will not cam out the needle which is in thesame slot therewith. The lug I5I is of the same length as the effectivelength of one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 8'I, that is, it is ofthe same length as the throw distance which the pawl 86 is actuated by asingle lug 82 thereagainst. Consequently the cylinder rotates twicewhile the cam 68 isfully out, and as a result'the yarns III! and III arereverse plated for two courses on the special needle 3|. These reverseplated stitches as thus made are indicated in the design at I52 (seeFigure 5). Lugs I53, I56, and I55 successively actuate the bell cranklevers I 2I, I20 and H9 for successively withdrawing the jack actuatingcams 69, I0, and II, each for two complete rotations of the cylinder.Withdrawal of the cam 69 permits the special jacks .3I to remain loweredfor effecting reverse plating on the needles associated therewith; thisreverse plating being represented in the stitches 151 in the designshown in Figure 5. Withdrawal. of'the cam I permits the special jacks 3lto remain lowered and the needles associated therewith thus reversely.plate the yarns for two, courses of knitting, designated in the reverseplated stitches I58, shown in Figure of the drawings. Withdrawal of thecam II permits the jacks 3| and needles associated therewith to remainlowered. as is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, so that the needlesassociated therewith take the yarns in a reverse plating'relation, forreversely plating the yarns in two courses, in the design, designated inthe reverse plate stitches I59 shown in the design of Figure 5. Thepattern control drum lugs I60, I6I, and I62then successively actuate thebell crank levers- I20, I2l, and I22 for withdrawing the cams I0, 69,and 68 in the order stated. The manner in which the remainder of thereverse plated design is completed will be perfectly apparent from theabove description. A lowering cam I63 operates on all of the top buttsof the main jacks in order to lower all of the jacks before reaching theelevating cam I40. Yarn guide arms I64 and I65 are provided torespectively feed the white plating and black backing yarns III and H0respectively onto the needles after the needles have been elevated bythe stitch cam I66, as shown in Figure 4 of .the drawings.

It is sometimes desirable to provide other and contrasting colored yarnsin association with the reverse plated design. To that end the yarns II2 and H3 may be employed in the design in a variety of ways, one ofwhich has been shown in the fabric H ofFigure 5. It is of course to beunderstood that these additional yarns, which are knitted into thefabric, after the float method, are optional, since reverse plateddesigns alone may be used. w

.When utilizing additional yarns, such as the contrasting colored yarnsH2 and I I3, it is intended that they will be visible in the fabric inan associated contrasting relation with the reverse plated yarn of thefigure. Generally this is accomplished by camming up certain of theneedles associated with the seven special jacks of a series abovedescribed, by means of the auxiliary or smaller jacks 55 and 55*" shownin Figures 4 and 13. In the example shown, wherein for two courses thered yarn H3 is knit in the same wale line as the reverse plated stitchesI52, with the green contrasting yarn II3 inthe same courses but in theadjacent wale lines as the reverse plated stitches I 51, a special shortauxiliary jack 55 is placed in the same needle slot of each of thespecial jack series above described asthe central special jack 3|.Longer auxiliary jacks 55 are placed in the same slots with the specialjacks 3|, in each of the special series three auxiliary jacks 55 and 55in each series are designated at 55 in Figure 4. These auxiliary jacks55 and 55 are provided with the long butts 51 and after being pusheddown in their respective slots by lowering of the needles atthe knittingpoint, the said special auxiliary jacks 55 and 55 are in the positionshown in Figure 4 as they approach the cam 66. The butt 51 of theauxiliary jack 55 is in position to ride against the cam 66. Itsengagement therewith forces the auxiliary jack 55 upwardlylin its slotand against the needle 32 thereabove. This elevates the needle, andprior to elevation of the remaining needles by the stitch cam I66, ayarn guide finger I10 lowers the green yarn I I3 to feed it onto thiselevated needle. Of course the yarn guide arm I10 does not lowersuflicient toJpermit this yarn to be fed into any other needle than thatelevated by the auxiliary jack 55. The butts 51 of the other auxiliaryjacks 55 pass beneath the lower end of the cam 66, since they are at alevel to permit such passing. However, they ride into engagement with anelevating cam III, shown in Figure 4, which elevates them to a levelwherefrom they may be further elevated by means of a special cam I12.

The main cam block of the knitting machine includes the usual centerraise cam, and the stitch cam I66 above described, and also the otherstitch cam I14, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.-Special pick cams I15 and H6 are employed with this cam block, inassociation with the center raised cam and stitch cams, quite similar tothat described in detail in my co-pending application Serial No.209,254, filed July 29, 1927.

The elevating cam "2 receives the butts 51 of the auxiliary' jacks 55thereagainst and elevates these auxiliary jacks, one after the other, ata point which enables the needles associated therewith to be elevatedabove the adjacent needles of the cylinder, after such adjacent needleshave been elevated by the stitch cagn I66 to their maximum position andthen slightly lowered by the first pick cam I15. In other words, theneedles controlled by the auxiliary jacks 55 are elevated between thepick cams I15 and I16, and in association therewith the red spotting orcontrasting yarn H2 is fed by the yarn guide arm I18 onto the twoneedles elevated by the elevation of the auxiliary jacks 55*. Duringsuch reception of the spotting yarn H2 upon the two needles elevated bythe auxiliary jacks. 55*, the needle between, which previously hasreceived the yarn H3, is in lowered position with its butt against thetop of the center raised cam I13, as is shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings, so that the yarn H2 cannot befed to said needle. Theneedlesafter elevated by the auxiliary jacks 55 are lowered by the pickcam I16 to a position where they may be further lowered by the stitchcam I14, together with all of the other needles. This takes place at theknitting point I80. This lowering of the needles by the stitch cam I14pushes the auxiliary jacks 55 and 55 downwardly in their slots in thecylinder to the level at which they approach the cam 66 as abovedescribed.

The above mentioned manipulation of the needies by the auxiliary jacks55* and 55 will cause the yarns IIZ'and H3 to be knitted in the same twocourses in which the reverse plated stitch loops I59 appear. As shown inFigure 5 of the drawings the yarn H3 is visibly displayed in stitchloops I6I in the center of the reverse plated design, and ateach sidethereof the yarn H2 has stitch loops I82 showing on the face of thefabric within the design. The yarns I I2 and II 3 are floated at theinside of the stocking or fabric being knitted from one figure toanother, as can be understood from Figure 5 of the drawings.

The cam 66 is actuated ofl. the-drum 19, a lug I 85 being providedthereon for actuating thru the lever mechanism above described the bellcrank lever I I5 which controls the cam 66. Cam I", as is shown inFigure 1 of the drawings, is actuated by a bell crank lever I86 ofi ofthe pattern control drum I43, thru a connecting lever mechanism I81,although this cam "I may be operated off the drum 19. The cam I12, asshown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is operated by means of a bell cranklever I88 which is actuated thru the above described system of leversoff the drum I9 by engagement of one of the levers I30 with a lug I89positioned on the drum I9. I v

Under certain circumstances a figure or pattern is not knitted into thefabric. For instance, in knitting a stocking the pattern is taken out ofthe high splice and sole. Under these circumstances certain of theseries of special main jacks are actuated so as to eliminate the reverseplating effect. To that end such series of special jacks which lie inthe grooves with the shortbutt needles whereon the high splice and soleare knitted are provided with lowermost butts 49 of a lengthintermediate the short butt length and the long butt length. They areshown in cross section in Figure 4 of the drawings. A special cam I90,shown in Figures 1 and 4, is employed, operated upon by a bell cranklever I9I which is controlled by a connecting lever mechanism I92 offthe pattern control drum I43. At the appropriate time this cam I ispushed into position to elevate the special jacks having the lower buttsof intermediate length in order to cut out the reverse plated design.This will be apparent from Figure 4 of the drawings.

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to employ auxiliaryjacks at the level of the jacks 55' having butts of different lengths,so that additional colored yarns may be knitted into the design afterthe float method. The feeding of yarn to the needles controlled by suchauxiliary jacks may be controlled by a cam I93, shown in dotted and dashlines in Figure 4 of the drawings and in full lines in Figure 1 of thedrawings, controlled off a bell crank lever I94. This cam I93 is notused in the knitting of the design of fabric H, as will be quiteapparent.

It is to be distinctly understood that all of the cams actuating uponthe main, special, and auxiliary jacks may be actuated directly off theimproved pattem control drum I9. Furthermore, the cams in the block 60may be used in a selected arrangement. In fact two of the cams whichordinarily slide in the second and third passageways from the top of theblock 60 have not been ,shown in the drawings, since no cams are neededat this point for the design of fabric illustrated. It is obvious thatby the drum lug arrangement and the breaking away of the butts of themain jack in a selected arrangement practically any character of figureor design may be reverse plated in the fabric. The primary use of theimproved machine will be for the knitting of reverse plated designs, butadditional contrasting yarns may be placed within and in associationwith any reverse plateddesign after the float method above described.

The individual needles and jacks may be yieldably maintained in theirpositions in the cylinders by means of the conventional contractilesprings 20!], shown in Figure 13 and elsewhere.

The usual needle actuating cam set may be providedand need not befurther described.

The whole set of levers I 36 may be put out of operation by means I43operated oil the drum I43.

The drum I9 and its lugs may be provided with means to prevent the quickdetachable connection of the lugs on the drum in any desired position.

It can readily be understood that by using one, two, three or fouroperating lugs on the gear 23 the plating may be similarly effected inone to four consecutive courses in the fabric. Indeed it is possible toeffect similar plating through any number of consecutive courses.

Various changes in the steps of the method for producing the improvedknitted fabric of this invention, as well as changes in the shape, size,and arrangement of parts may be made to the mechanism for producing thevarious reverse plated and figured effects and designs, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a needle holder, a

series of latch needles slidable in the holder;

needle actuating earns, a series of jacks for the needles, meansoperative upon the jacks for moving the respective needles transverse tothe normal needle line for reversing the plating of yarns with respectto the plating effected upon the needles when in the normal needle line,a second series of jacks for the needles, and means operating upon thesecond series of jacks for ling means for actuating said last mentionedcams, a second series of jacks for certain individual needles of saidsetof needles, and pattern controlling cam means for actuating saidsecond series of jacks in order to elevate the needles thereby.

3. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, a set of needlesslidable in the slots of said bed, a needle cam set, a series of jacksslidable in the slots of said bed individually in co-acting relationwith said needles, whereby to radially move the needles inwardly andoutwardly, said jacks having a selected arrangement of frangible buttsthereon, a series of cams in position to engage the butts of said jacksfor actuating the jacks and consequently moving the needles in aselected sequence, means for feeding body and plating yarns to saidneedles, pattern controlling means for actuating said series of cams, asecond seriespf jacks slidable in the slots of said needle bed and lyingin position below the individual needles, and cam means for actuatingsaid last series-of jacks for slidably moving predetermined needles inthe slots.

4. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, a set of needlesslidable in the slots of said bed, a needle cam set, a series of jacksslidable in the slots of said bed individually in co-acting relationwith the needles whereby to radially move the needles inwardly andoutwardly, said jacks having a selected arrangement'ofirangible buttsthereon, a series of camsin position to engage the butts of said jacksfor actuating the jacks and consequently moving the needles in aselected sequence, means for feeding body and plating yarns to saidneedles, pattern controlling means for actuating said series of cams, asecond series of jacks slidable in the slots of said needle bed andlying in position below the individual needles, cam means for actuatingsaid series of jacks for slidably moving predetermined needles in theslots, and means for feeding additional yarns to such needles asactuated by the second series of jacks.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a series of independent needles,means to feed a plurality of contrasting threads thereto in a platingrelation, means to actuate the needles for knitting plated fabric, meansto actuate a group of said needles for reverse plating the fabric inselected designs in the fabric, means to feed a ,plurality of additionaland relatively contrasting yarns to the needles, and means to elevatepredetermined needles of said group to knit said additional threads inwrap within wrap relation in the same courses and in a complementarycontrasting design with the reverse plated design and with saidadditional threads floated on the inside of the fabric between thedesigns knitted therewith.

6. In a knitting machine, a series of independent needles, means to feeda plurality of contrasting threads thereto in a plating relation,-

means to actuate the needles for knitting plated fabric, means toactuate a group of said needles for reverse plating the fabric in aselected boundary closed reverse plated design, means to feed aplurality of additional and contrasting threads, which are alsorelatively contrasted in color, to selected needles of said group, meansto actuate said selected needles to knit said additional threads in awrap within wrap relation in the same courses and in a complementarycontrasting design within'the boundaries formed by the reverse plateddesign and in the same 'wale lines with the reverse plated stitches, andwith the said additional threads floated on the inside of the fabricbetween the designs knitted therewith:

7. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder havingslots, needles slidable in the slots, jacks slidable in the slots foreach of said needles, cam means associated with the cylinder and jacksand needles to bodily move the needles'in a selected arrangementradially inwardly and outwardly in substantial parallelism as the jacksare slid in their slots, said jacks having a series of selectivelyarranged frangible butts thereon, cam means for engaging said butts toactuate the jacks in a selected arrangement, and means to feed backingand facing yarns to the needles.

8. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder havingslots, needles slidable in the slots, jacks slidable in the slots foreach of said needles, cam means associated with the cylinder and jacksand needles to bodily move the needles in 'a selected arrangementradially inwardly and outwardly in substantial parallelism wardly of thefirst mentioned jacks and the respective needles, means for actuatingsaid auxiliary jacks to elevate predetermined needles in advance of. theknitting point, and means for feeding additional thread to suchpredetermined needles as they are elevated.

9. As an article of manufacture a one piece needleactuating jack forknitting machines comprising an elongated body having a series oflaterally extending relatively spaced frangible butts at an endthereofat different levels, said jack at its opposite end having a sloping camshoulder on the opposite edge from that edge from which the jack buttsproject, the said jack body at. a point below said shoulder having anupwardly facing sloping needle engaging cam shoulder at its buttprojecting edge.

10. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder,needles slidably mounted on the cylinder for independent action, a setof jacks individually co-acting with said needles upon the cylinder, cammeans for selectively moving said jacks to radially move the needlesbodily wit out tipping or bending, a second set of jacks for independentco-action with said needles, and cam means forselectively actuating thelast mentioned set of jacks for selective elevation of said needles.

11. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder,needles slidably mounted on the cylinder for independent action, a setof jacks in selected relation as' they are elevated by the secondmentioned set of jacks.

12. Ina knitting machine, a needle holder having slots, needles slidablein the slots, needle actuating cams, individual sliding jacks each beingnon-flexible transversely to the needle line and positioned in the slotsbehind the needles, and

back of the respective needles, said needle holder having a cam flangethereon engageable by the jacks so as to move the jacks and needlesradially as the jacks are moved longitudinally in their respectiveslots, means to selectively actuate said jacks in predeterminedrelation, said last men tioned means including butts on the jacks atdifferent levels with respect to adjacent jacks and a series of camsactuable at diflerent levels upon said butts, other jacks in the slotsof the holder below the needles and forwardly of the first men-- tionedjacks, and means to elevate the last mentioned jacks for elevating therespective needles thereof.

14'. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder,needles slidably mounted on the cylinder for independent action, a setof jacks individually co-acting with said needles upon the cylinder, cammeans for selectively moving said jacks in order to move said needlesradially, means for feeding a plurality of yarns to the needles in orderto normal plate and reverse plate depending upon the normal or radialmoved positions of said needles, a second set of jacks for independentco-action with said needles, cam means for selectively actuating thelast mentioned jacks for selective elevation of said needles, and meansfor selectively feeding one or more other yarns upon the needles intheir elevated positions as they are elevated by said last mentioned cammeans.

15; As an article of manufacture a one piece needle actuating jack forknittingmachines comprising an elongated body having a laterallyextendingseries of frangible butts thereon atdlf- .ferent levels, saidjack body at a point between behind the respective needles, means tothrow the' upper ends of the jacks radially outward as they are movedupwardly in their slots in order to throw the hooked ends of the needlesradially outward, and means on the jack to engage the lower ends 01. theneedles as the acks are moved upwardly and to simultaneous with theaction of the last mentioned means to throw the lower ends of theneedles radially outward whereby the needles are bodily moved withoutbending and withouttipping in their respective slots.

l7. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder,needles slidably mounted in the cylinder for independent action, means-for feeding a plurality of plating yarns to the needles,

means for selective and independent direct movement of the needles toeffect normal and reverse plated patterning therein, means for feeding aplurality of needle wrapping yarns to the needles, selective meansfornelevating the needles independently and selectively to take variouswrap yarns in the same courses of knitting to produce in complementaryrelation to the reverse plated patterned effects wrap within wrapcontrasting patterned efiects in the same courses.

HARRY McADAMS.

